LST Veterans Day Breakfast

Working from the same galley that fed sailors during World War II, volunteers aboard the LST 325 served a Veterans Day breakfast to about 700 veterans and their families.<

Photographs by KEVIN SWANK / Courier & Press As other veterans come up on deck, Richard Decker, foreground left, a Marine veteran from Evansville, Rhoda Debose, partially visible beside Decker, also from Evansville, and James Caldwell, foreground right, an Army veteran and a member of the LST 325 crew from Chattanooga, Tenn., listen as Bob Cerling, center, talks about his experiences in the Navy where he served on the USS Massachusetts as they stand on the deck of LST 325 on Monday morning. Cerling, a member of the LST 325 crew said he has been a tour guide since the ship came to Evansville. The LST 325 Ship Memorial served a complimentary breakfast on board the ship for the seventh year. The event is underwritten by Browning Funeral Home as veterans and their families were treated to sausage, eggs, biscuits, gravy and drinks, eating on the tank deck of the World War II ship.

Kevin Swank, The Evansville Courier & Press

Erich Pfefflin, right, a veteran and a Marine, shares breakfast with his daughter Abigail, 3, on board LST 325 on Monday morning. The two, from Evansville, were taking part as the LST 325 Ship Memorial served a complimentary breakfast on board the ship.

Kevin Swank, The Evansville Courier & Press

KEVIN SWANK / Courier & Press The tank deck was crowded as the LST 325 Ship Memorial served a complimentary breakfast on board the ship on Monday morning. This is the seventh year for the event which is underwritten by Browning Funeral Home. Veterans and their families were treated to sausage, eggs, biscuits, gravy and drinks, eating on the tank deck of the World War II ship.

Kevin Swank, The Evansville Courier & Press

KEVIN SWANK / Courier & Press Bob Claybrooks, left, looks on as Jeannie Browning-Hester, right, pins an American flag pin on Claybrooks’ great-granddaughter Leah Butler, 8, after they ate breakfast on LST 325. The two, from Evansville, Claybrooks said he was an Army veteran from the Korean War.

Kevin Swank, The Evansville Courier & Press

KEVIN SWANK / Courier & Press Steve Burgdorf, an Army veteran from Haubstadt, Ind., enjoys a story while having breakfast as the LST 325 Ship Memorial served a complimentary breakfast on board the ship on Monday morning.

Kevin Swank, The Evansville Courier & Press

KEVIN SWANK / Courier & Press Navy Veteran Jack Stephenson keeps count of those entering the tank deck for breakfast as LST 325 Ship Memorial served a complimentary breakfast on board the ship on Monday morning. Stephenson, from Moline, Ill., said he has done this job from six or seven years as a member of the LST 325 crew.

Kevin Swank, The Evansville Courier & Press

KEVIN SWANK / Courier & Press Bob Chick, a Vietnam veteran from Peoria, Ill., fourth from left, talks to others as the LST 325 Ship Memorial served a complimentary breakfast on board the ship on Monday morning. Chick is a member of the crew of LST 325 and is in town for workweek.